Controller for pressure suits



7, 1965 L. cs. NETTELAND 3,200,829

CONTROLLER FOR PRESSURE SUITS Filed D60. 7, 1962 United States Patent spasms CONTROLLER FOR PRESSURE SUITS Loyal G. Netteland, East Aurora, N.Y., assignor to The Firewel Company, Inc., Bufialo, N.Y., a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 242,975 7 Claims. (Cl. 137-81) This invention relates to a controller for pressure suits used by aviators in high altitude flying and through which ventilation air is normally circulated, this ventilation air being exhausted from the suit through the controller and the controller also serving to supply oxygen from the ship supply or from an emergency supply to maintain the suit pressure in the event of ventilation air leakage as from a hole in the suit.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means maintaining the controller in operative condition in the event of malfunction of essential control parts, more particularly in the event of a tear in the main control diaphragm or in the event of dirt on the seat of the prime aneroid preventing this prime aneroid from cutting off the controller from ambient.

Another object is to provide such safety features which are reliable in operation to be effective when needed.

Another object is to provide such safety features which do not materially add to the Weight or size of the controller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawing which is a simplified vertical central section through a controller embodying the present invention.

The controller 1 of the present invention is set into the fabric 2 of the aviators pressure suit around an opening 3 therein, this opening being preferably provided with an enlarged rim 4. For this purpose, the body 5 of the controller is made in two major sections 6 and 8 which can be joined together in any suitable manner (not shown) to clamp between them the fabric 2 around the opening 3. The body 5 therefore has a compartment or a part of its exterior surface forming part of and exposed to the interior 9 of the aviators suit, and as viewed in this drawing, the inside 9 of the suit is on the right side and the outside of the suit is on the left side of the controller. Ventilation air is supplied to the inside 9 of this suit in any suitable manner (not shown), the purpose of this ventilation air being to keep the suit comfortable and the exhaust of this ventilation air beingunder control of the controller 1.

The section 6 of the body 5 is in the form of a metal casting having a hollow interior which opens toward the inside 9 of the suit, the outer part 10 of this hollow interior being in the form of an enlarged cylindrical bore to provide an axially outwardly facing annular shoulder 11 toward the inner end of the hollow interior. This section 6 of the body 5 is also provided with a downwardly projecting boss 12 containing a primary aneroid chamber 13 which is open to the atmosphere through a vent 14, and also is provided with an upwardly projecting boss 15 containing a secondary aneroid chamber 16 which is open to the atmosphere through a vent 18.

The section 8 of the body 5 of the controller is provided with an annular inner rim 20 of smaller diameter than the bore 10 and providing a large central opening 21 providing communication between this bore 10 and the inside 9 of the suit.

This section 8 of the body 5 is provided with a downwardly projecting boss 22 which forms a closure for the corresponding end of the primary aneroid chamber 13 and also a support for a lower tilt demand valve 25 which is operated in response to the movement of a flexible demand diaphragm 26. One side of the rim of the ice flexible diaphragm 26 is held against a supporting rim 28 shown as formed integrally with the body section 18 and as rising from the lower boss 22. The rim of the diaphragm 26 is held against this supporting rim 28 by a cap member 29 which is hollowed out to form a chamber 39 one wall of which is provided by the diaphragm 26.

The section 8 of the body 5 is also provided with an upwardly projecting boss 32 which forms a closure for the corresponding end of the aneroid chamber 16 and also a support for an upper tilt demand valve 25a which is operated in response to the movement of a flexible diaphragm 34. One side of the rim of the flexible diaphragm 34 is held against a rim 35 shown as formed integrally with the body section 8 and as projecting downwardly from the upper boss 32. The rim of the flexible diaphragm 34 is held against this supporting rim 35 by a cap member 36 which is hollowed out to form a demand chamber 38 one wall of which is provided by the dia phragm 34.

A redundant or safety secondary control diaphragm 49 of flexible material forms a partition across the inner end of the hollow interior of the body section 6 and forms a secondary control chamber 41 between this diaphragm and body section. The rim of this secondary control or safety diaphragm 45 is sealed against the shoulder 11 of the body section 6 by means of a retaining ring 42, and the secondary control or safety diaphragm 4th is prevented from coming into face-to-face contact with the body section 6 by the provision of a plurality of integral projections or buttons 43 on the corresponding face of the diaphragm.

A primary control diaphragm 4-5 forms a partition across the hollow interior of the body section 6 and with the secondary control or safety diaphragm 4t and its retaining ring &2 forms a primary control chamber 46 therein. The rim of the primary control diaphragm 45 is held by a retaining ring 48 in sealed relation with the retaining ring 42 for the secondary control or safety diaphragm 4d. The central part 49 of the primary control diaphragm 45 is preferably thickened to provide a less flexible disk, the rim of which bears against an annular valve seat St} on a rim 51 projected axially from a ring 52 fitted into the bore 10 against the retaining ring 43. This axially projecting rim 51 provides an annular chamber 55 between this ring 52, the primary control diaphragm 45 and the retaining ring 4. 8 for this primary control diaphragm. A ring 53 is shown as interposed between this ring 52 and the fabric 2 of the aviators suit, this fabric being clamped between this ring 53 and the body section 6 by the other body section 8 to secure the controller 1 to this part of the aviators suit.

The numeral represents one of two nipples to which oxygen under pressure from the ships supply or from an emergency supply in case of emergency is fed to the controller, this oxygen flowing through a passage 61 in the controller body having a branch 62 serviing the tilt demand valve 25. This oxygen supply passage 61 also has a branch 64 containing a restriction 65 and leading to a chamber 66 in the side of the body section 8 opposing the primary aneroid chamber 13 and in line therewith. The primary aneroid chamber 13 contains a primary aneroid indicated generally at '76.

The primary aneroid 70 is contained within a cup-like shell 71 having an open end opposing the corresponding chamber 66 and closed by a disk 72, the rim of the cupshaped housing and its disk seating against a sealing gasket 73 on the face of the body section 3 surrounding the chamber '66. The disk 72 has a central through opening 75 adapted to be closed by a valve head 76 having an annular seat 78 arranged to seat against the face of the disk 72 opposite from the chamber 66 and surrounding the hole 75. The valve head 76 is yieldingly biased to an open position by a spiral spring 79 and on its opposite side the valve head is provided with a ball protuberance 80 engaging the socketed end head 81 of an axially extensible bellows 82. This bellows is shown as secured to the end head of the cup-shaped shell 71 by means of a stud bolt 83 and this end head is also provided with through openings 84 leading to aneroid chamber 13.

The numeral 600: represents another nipple to which oxygen under pressure is fed to the controller, preferably from a supply other than that serving the nipple so. The oxygen from the nipple 60a flows through a passage 61a in the controller having a branch 62a serving the tiltdemand valve 25a. This oxygen supply passage 61a also has a branch 64a containing a restriction 65a leading to a chamber 66a in the side of the body section 8 opposing the secondary aneroid chamber 16 and in line therewith. This secondary aneroid chamber 16 contains a secondary aneroid indicated generally at 7 a.

The secondary aneroid 749a is of a construction similar to the primary aneroid '70 but these aneroids have a differential setting for a purpose which will presently appear. Thus the secondary aneroid 70a is contained within a cuplike shell 71a having an opening opposing the corresponding chamber 66a and closed by a disk 72a, the rim of the cup-shaped housing and its disk seating against a sealing gasket 73a on the face of the body section 8 surrounding the chamber 66a. The disk 72a has a central through opening 75a adapted to be closed by .a valve head 76a having an annular seat 78a arranged to seat against the face of the disk 72a opposite from the chamber 66a and surrounding the hole 75a. The head 76a is yieldingly biased to an open position by a spring 7% and on its opposite side the valve is provided with a ball protuberance 80a engaging the socketed end head 81a of an axially extensible bellows 82a. This bellows is shown as secured to the end head of the cup-shaped shell 71a by means of a stud bolt 83a and this end head is also provided with through openings 84a leading to the aneroid chamber 16.

The .tilt demand valves 25, 25a are identical in construction and hence a description of one will be deemed to apply to both, the corresponding parts of valve 25a being distinguished by the sufiix a.

Each demand valve comprises a disk 85, 85a set into a bore 86, 86a the inner end of winch communicates with the corresponding oxygen supply branch 62 or 63 and the outer end of which opposes the corresponding diaphragm 26 or 34. The disk 85, 85a has a central opening surrounded by a valve seat engaged by a valve head 88, 88a arranged on the side of the disk 85, 85a remote from the corresponding diaphragm 26 or 34. A stem 39, 89a is fixed to the valve head 88, 88a and projects toward the corresponding diaphragm 26 or 34 having at its outward end a ball head 90, 90a which contacts this diaphragm. A spiral compression spring 91, 91a surrounds the valve stem 89, 89a and tends to hold the valve head 88, 88a seated, the spring hearing at one end against a collar 92, 92a on the valve stem and at its other end against an insert 94, 94a in the outer end of the bore 86, 86a and which is provided with openings 95, 95a which permit the escape of oxygen therethrough.

The controller includes a spring loaded check valve 100 which is designed to prevent the suit from becoming waterlogged, in the event the aviator falls into the sea, at which time the pressure in the primary control chamber 46 would be at the ambient sea level pressure. This sea water check valve is shown as comprising a radially inward annular extension 102 of the ring 52 which is provided on its side facing the primary control diaphragm 45 with an annular axially facing valve seat 163 surrounding the opening 104 through the center of the annular extension 102. A cross bar 105 integral with this annular extension 102 and ring 52 extends across the center of this opening 104 and is provided with a bore 1% slidably supporting a pin 188 for movement onward and from the primary control diaphragm 45. A disk 109 of flexible material backed by a metal disk 110 is secured, as by screw lilll, to the end of the sliding pin 108 opposing the primary control diaphragm 45, the rim of the flexible disk 1499 extending beyond the metal backing disk 110, to engage the valve seat 103. A spiral compression spring 112 is interposed between a nut lllil at the opposite end of the screw ill. and the cross arm 105 of the ring 52. It will therefore be seen that this spring 112 tends to hold the check valve MPO closed and that its effect can be adjusted by the nut 113. It will also be seen that the sea water check valve res provides a chamber 114 between it and the primary control diaphragm 45.

The primary control chamber 46 is connected by a passage 120 with the chamber 66 controlled by the primary aneroid '70 and this primary control chamber 46 is also connected by the passage 121 with the demand chamber 30 behind the demand diaphragm 26. The secondary control chamber 41 is connected by passage 122 with the chamber 66a from which air or oxygen is vented by the secondary aneroid 79a and this secondary control chamber 41 is also connected by a passage 123 to the demand chamber 38.

The annular chamber 55 around the rim 51 and its valve seat 54B is vented by the passage 124. The primary aneroid is set to open at a slightly higher ambient pressure or lower altitude than the secondary aneroid 70a thereby to maintain a slightly lower pressure or higher altitude in the secondary control chamber 41 as compared with the primary control chamber as.

Operation As indicated air for ventilation of the suit is supplied to the interior 9 thereof from a source (not shown),

this ventilation air being for the purpose of rendering the pressure suit comfortable. The controller is inoperative to control suit presures below the assumed 34,600 feet altitude, suit pressurization being then unnecessary since a mans bodycan Withstand pressure at altitudes below this 34,600 feet. Thus at altitudes lower than the assumed 34,600 feet the bellows 82, 82a of the primary and secondary aneroids 70 and 70a are contracted so that their valve heads 76, 76a are out of contact with the disks '72, 72a, this open condition of these valve heads being assisted by the springs 79, 79a. Accordingly oxygen under pressure continuously supplied at one supply nipple 60 to the passage 61 escapes through the restricted orifice 65 to the atmosphere. This escape from the restricted orifice 65' is via the chamber 66, passage 75, past open valve head 76, the cup or capsule 71 supporting the primary aneroid 7-0, openings 34, aneroid chamber 13 and vent 14 to the atmopshere. Similarly oxygen, preferably supplied to the nipple 60a from a, pressure source other than that serving the supply nipple 6t}, escapes through the restricted orifice 65a to the atmosphere. This escape from the restricted orifice 65a is via chamber 66a, opening a, past open valve head 76a, interior of 71a supporting the secondary aneroid 743a, openings 84a, aneroid chamber 116 and vent 18 to the atmosphere.

Accordingly the primary and secondary chambers 66 and 6601 on the downstream sides or" the restrictions as and 65a are substantially at ambient pressure hence ambient pressure is maintained in the primary control chamber 46 connected to the primary chamber 66 by the passage and also ambient pressure is maintained in the demand diaphragm chamber 30 connected to this chamber 65 by the passage 121. Also ambient pressure is maintained in the secondary control chamber 41 behind the secondary control or safety diaphragm 40 through the passage 122 connecting it with the chamber 66a and ambient pressure is also maintained in the demand diaphragm chamber 33 connected by the passage 123 with this chamber 66a.

On reaching the altitude of 34,600 feet, the primary aneroid 70 expands axially to move its valve head 76 into contact with the disk 72 thereby to cut elf the chamber 66 from ambient. Accordingly oxygen from the restriction 65 builds up pressure in the primary control chamber 46 and also in the demand diaphragm chamber 30 via the passages 120 and 121, respectively. At a slightly higher altitude the secondary aneroid 7% expands axially to bring its valve head 76a into contact with the disk 72a thereby to cut oil the chamber 66a from ambient. Accordingly, oxygen under pressure from the restriction 65a builds up pressure in the secondary control chamber 41 and also in the demand chamber 38 via the passages 122 and 123, respectively.

With this build up of pressure in the primary control chamber 46, the primary control diaphragm 45 takes control of the pressure of the ventilation air in the interior 9 of the suit pressure. Thus this primary diaphragm 45, backed by the pressure of the oxygen in primary control chamber 46, presses against the seat 56 thereby to trap and maintain the suit pressure at a pressure of, say

17511 mm. Hg

If the pressure in the suit exceeds this value it moves the primary diaphragm 45 away from the seat 5th to vent the ventilation air via the chamber 55 and vent passage 124 to ambient. At this time the secondary diaphragm 43 is limp.

In the event ventilation air is lost from the interior 9 of the suit, the controller it supplies oxygen to maintain the pressure Within the suit at the desired value. Thus with oxygen under pressure in the primary control chamber as now holding the primary control diaphragm 45 seated against the valve seat 5%? and with an equivalent oxygen pressure in the demand chambers 30 and 33, dropping of the pressure of the ventilation air in the interior 9 of the suit below the supply capabilities of the ventilation air causes the demand diaphragms 26 and 34 to move to the left as illustrated and thereby trip the stems 89, 89a of the tilt demand valves 2d, 25a. This tilts the valve heads 88, 83a on their seats on the disks 85, 85a and permits oxygen under pressure from the brances 62, 62a to escape past the demand valve disks 85, 85a and through the openings 95, 95a into the in terior 9 of the suit. Thus, oxygen is supplied to maintain the pressure Within the suit at the assumed 175i mm. Hg absolute even though air or oxygen is lost as through the assumed hole in the suit. The controller is designed to maintain suit pressure with suit leakage up to 60 l.p.m.

In the event of malfunctioning of the primary control diaphragm 4-5 at this time, as through a tear in this primary control diaphragm, or loss of supply pressure from the nipple 60 to the primary aneroid 7t) and primary control chamber as for any reason, or in the event of malfunctioning of the prime aneroid '70, as through the presence of dirt on the seat of its valve head 76, control pressure in the primary control chamber 46 would be lost. At this time the secondary control or safety diaphragm 40 takes over control due to the higher pressure then existing in the secondary control chamber 41 as compared with the primary control chamber 46 which, with a torn diaphragm 45, would be at ambient and with, say a partly unseated valve head 76 of the primary aneroid 70 would also be substantially at ambient. With this higher air pressure in the secondary control chamber 41 as compared with the primary control chamber 46, the secondary control or safety diaphragm 4th is moved to the right into engagement with the primary control diaphragm 45 against the seat 50 so as to prevent the escape of ventilation air or oxygen from the interior 9 of the suit until its pressure rises above the set value. This value is now determined by the secondary aneroid a which is set to maintain oxygen pressure bled through the restricted orifice 65a into the chamber 66a at such value as to provide the required pressure in the secondary control chamber 41 in controlling the opening and closing of the primary control diaphragm &5 to maintain the required suit pressure, this secondary control chamber 41 now being the controlling chamber.

In the event the aviator drops into the sea, a check valve lllt) prevents sea water from entering the suit space 9 via the duct 124, chamber 55 and unseated diaphragm 45 which at sea level would be limp and ineffectual against such external Water pressure.

It will therefore be seen that the controller of the present invention provides for maintaining the required pressure in the interior 9 of the pressure suit not only in the event of suit leakage, as through a hole in the suit, but also in the event that either the primary control diaphragm 45 or the primary aneroid 78 controlling this primary control diaphragm becomes inoperative so as to cause loss of control pressure within the primary control chamber 46 from any cause. It will further be seen that the secondary aneroid 7tla controls the admission of pressurized gas into the secondary control chamber 41 to maintain a lower control pressure therein as compared with the control pressure in the primary control chamber 46 but in step therewith so as to be ineffectual normally but ready to take over in the event of such loss of control pressure in the primary control chamber 46.

What is claimed is:

1. In a controller for gas pressure maintained in the interior of an aviators pressure suit, the controller having a hollow body With a compartment adapted to be exposed to said interior of an aviators pressure suit, a primary control diaphragm across the interior of said body having one face forming with said body a primary control chamber, the other face of said primary control diaphragm forming part of said compartment, a source of pressurized gas, a primary aneroid responsive to ambient pressures and controlling the admission of said pressurized gas to said primary control chamber, a valve seat interposed between said compartment and a passage leading to ambient, said primary control diaphragm being operatively associated with said valve seat to connect said compartment to said passage leading to ambient, and demand valve means admitting said pressurized gas from said source to said compartment to compensate for leakage from the suit as through a hole; the combination therewith of a secondary control diaphragm across the interior of said body in said primary control chamber to form one wall thereof and having one face forming with said body a secondary control chamber on the side of said secondary control diaphragm remote from said primary control diaphragm, said secondary control diaphragm being also operatively associated with said valve seat to connect said compartment to said passage leading to ambient, and secondary control means controlling the admission of pressurized gas to said secondary control chamber at a lower pressure than in said primary control chamber but in step therewith, whereby the fiow of pressurized gas past said valve seat is normally under control of said primary control diaphragm but in the event of failure of control pressure in said primary control chamber, comes under control of said secondary control diaphragm.

2. A controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary and secondary control diaphragms are generally parallel and positioned to contact each other and said secondary diaphragm acts directly through said primary control diaphragm in controlling the flow of pressurized gas past said valve seat on failure of control pressure in said primary control chamber.

3. A controller as set forth in claim 2 wherein said Valve seat is contacted by said other face of said primary control diaphragm and when released by said primary trol diaphragm a chamber vented to ambient.

5. A controller as set forth in claim ll wherein said secondary control means comprises a secondary aneroid responsive to ambient pressures and controlling the ad mission of pressurized gas to said secondary control chamber, said primary and secondary aneroids being set to so maintain a lower presure in said secondary control chamber than in said primary control chamber.

6. A- controllcr as set forth in claim :3 wherein said means admitting'pressurized gas to the interior of said suit to compensate for leakage therefrom comprises a pair of demand diaphragms each having one face forming a demand chamber with said body and having its opposite :face exposed to said interior of the suit, means connecting one of said demand chambers formed by a demand diaphragm with said primary control chamber, means connecting the other of said demand chambers formed by a demand diaphragm with said secondary control chamber, and a demand valve actuated by each of said demand diaphragms and serving to admit pressurized gas to said compartment. 7

i 7. Acontroller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means admitting pressurized gas to said compartment to compensate for leakage from the suit comprises a demand diaphragm having one face forming a demand chamber With said body and having its opposite face forming part of said compartment, means connecting said demand chamber With one of said control chambers, and ademand valve actuated by said demand diaphragm and serving to admit pressurized gas to said compartment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,905,071 9/59 Krueger 13781 293,377 3/150 Cummins 128-144 2,963,03 12/69 Cummins 13781 XR 2,969,801 1/61 Cummins 137-81 3,019,804 2/62 Miller 13781 XR 2,929,377 3/60 Cunlmins 123-l44 LAVERNE D. GEEGER, Primary Examiner.

MELTSN KAUFMAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTROLLER FOR GAS PRESSURE MAINTAINED IN THE INTERIOR OF AN AVIATOR''S PRESSURE SUIT, THE CONTROLLER HAVING AHOLLOW BODY WITH A COMPARTMENT ADAPTED TO BE EXPOSED TO SAID INTERIOR OF AN AVIATRO''S PRESSURE SUIT, A PRIMARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM ACROSS THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY HAVING ONE FACE FORMING WITH SID BODY A PRIMARY DIAPHRAGM FORMING PART OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED GAS, A PRIMARY ANEROID RESPONSIVE TO AMBIENT PRESSURES AND CONTROLLING THE ADMISSION OF SAID PRESSURIZED GAS TO SAID PRIMARY CONTROL CHAMBER, A VALVE SEAT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID COMPARTMENT AND A PASSAGE LESDING TO AMBIENT, SAID PRIMARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM BEING OPRATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID VALVE SEAT TO CONNECT SAID COMPARTMENT TO SAID PASAGE LEADING TO AMBIENT, AND DEMAND VALVE MEANS ADMITTING SAID PRESSURIZED GAS FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID COMPARTMENT TO COMPENSATE FOR LEAKAGE FROM THE SUIT AS THOUGH A HOLE; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A SECONDARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM ACROSS THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY IN SAID PRIMARY CONTROL CHAMBER TO FORM ONE WALL THEREOF AND HAVING ONE FACE FORMING WITH SAID BODY A SECONDARY CONTROL CHAMBER ON THE SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM REMOTE FROM SAID PRIMARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM, SAID SECONDARY CONTROP DIAPHRAGM BEING ALSO OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH PASSAGE VALVE SEAT TO CONNECT SAID COMPARTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH PASSAGE LEADING TO AMBIENT, AND SECONDARY CONTROL MEANS CONTROLLING THE ADMISSION OF PRESSURIZED GAS TOSAID SECONDARY CONTROL CHAMBER AT A LOWER PRESSURE THAN IN SAID PRIMARY CONTROL CHAMBER BUT IN STEP THEREWITH, WHEREBY THE FLOW OF PRESSURIZED GAS PAST SAID VALVE SEAT IS NORMALLY UNDER CONTROL OF SAID PRIMARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM BUT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE OF CONTROL PRESSURE IN SAID PRIMARY CONTROL CHAMBER, COMES UNDER TONTROL OF SECONDARY CONTROL DIAPHRAGM. 